Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Doctor Who and the Daleks was the first of two big screen movie spin-offs starring Peter Cushing as the titular 'Doctor' of the popular British sci-fi series.

Original props from the 1965 Dr. Who & The Daleks movie

This first movie in 1965 was quickly followed by another cinematic outing called Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. in 1966. It was the first time that the Doctor's adventures were presented in colour, where they were filmed in Technicolor and a widescreen format at Shepperton Studios.

Dr. Who & The Daleks movie poster

The Doctor's episodic TV adventures continued on the BBC at the same time as these movies, but were filmed in black and white until 1969.

Dr. Who & The Daleks TARDIS prop

In the movie, the time-travelling scientist The Doctor and three companions are transported in time and space to an alien planet in the 'TARDIS', a time machine disguised as a blue British police telephone box.

TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space.

Original Daleks from the 1965 Dr. Who & The Daleks movie

On the planet Skaro, they meet The Doctor's iconicarch-foes, the robotic mutants without mercy, the Daleks. Their classic catchphrase is 'Exterminate'.

The Daleks were created by writer Terry Nation and BBC designer Raymond Cusick and they first appeared in the second Doctor Who serial now known as The Daleks, in seven weekly parts from 1963-1964. They were a huge hit and their popularity spawned the two 1960's movies (the first movie being based on The Daleks TV episodes).

Dr. Who & The Daleks movie poster

These Daleks and TARDIS props were photographed on display at the London Film Museum on January 25, 2011 and any Dr. Who fan will enjoy seeing them up close.